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Fair to have variety of exhibits

Aaron Osowski, The Park Record

As per tradition, this year’s Summit County Fair will feature a plethora of exhibits from eager farmers, gardeners and residents just interested in raising fruits, vegetables, plants and livestock.

The floriculture and horticulture exhibits give Summit County residents a chance to show off their gardening prowess. One entry per family is allowed for these exhibits and will be accepted in the north end of the Quonset Hut on Thursday, August 8, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The floriculture exhibits compete in three divisions floral arrangements, annuals and perennials and displays are scored based on 11 different categories of varying degrees.

The horticulture exhibits are separated into four divisions vegetables, fruits, field crops and herbs and will each be scored by judges according to (1) size, (2) uniformity, (3) shape, blemishes and condition, (4) color and (5) neatness of display.

Summit County Fair Co-Administrator Travis English said that almost any vegetable one can imagine will be accepted for exhibition, although fruits will be mainly limited to apples, tomatoes, plums, currants, crab apples and other locally grown varieties due to the area’s slow growing season.

"[Quonset] Hut has been around since the 1940s. We’ve definitely outgrown the building it’s packed with all sorts of blue ribbons. There should be a huge turnout," English said.

Livestock exhibits

No fair would be complete without a wide array of cows, pigs, chickens and sheep, and this year’s showmanship contests will be accompanied by a livestock sale, to be held Saturday, August 10, at 1 p.m. under the Livestock Tent.

"It’s the second-highest grossing livestock sale in the state of Utah," English said. "It’s busy for sure. It’s fun and in a typical auction-type sale. It moves pretty fast."

Showmanship contests will be held on Thursday, August 8, at 8 a.m. (hogs), 1 p.m. (lambs) and 4 p.m. (steer), with poultry and pet rabbit check-in from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Judging for poultry and pet rabbits will be held that day at 4 p.m. with judging for hogs, steers and lambs to follow on Friday at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

On Saturday, a Junior Livestock Buyers Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. as a thank-you to participants of last year’s sale. Entries into this year’s sale are open only to currently enrolled members of the Summit County Future Farmers of America and 4-H.

Small-town rodeo

Perhaps one of the biggest draws to the fair is the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo, to be held this year on two nights Friday, August 9, and Saturday, August 10, both at 8 p.m. The rodeo will be held in the Large Arena which, despite the name, English says is "a little smaller" than other rodeo arenas.

"People are a little closer to the action, which is kind of fun. If you’re coming to watch the rodeo, you’re right there," English said.

The rodeo is a ticketed event, and prices are $11.50 for adults ages 15 and up, $5.50 for children ages 4 to 14 and free for children 3 and under.

Fireworks will also be held after the rodeo on each night at 10 p.m. and live entertainment will be held both Friday (1 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Saturday (12 p.m. to 7 p.m.) in the Grandstand.

A unique event this year, English says, is a hypnotist named Shaun Dee, going by the stage name of Hypno Hick. All ticket proceeds will benefit the Summit County Future Farmers of America.

The fair will offer much more than this, however, with an archery competition, barrel racing, a parade and a kids’ fun run just a small handful of the other events featured through Saturday, August 10. English hopes Summit County residents will stop by Coalville to sample this year’s fair.

"I encourage people from Park City to come out to the East Side," English said. "It’s worth it to experience livestock and agriculture and to get a glimpse of the other side."

For more information and a schedule of events for the remainder of this year’s Summit County Fair, visit summitcountyfair.org.

Summit County


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